MY SAY There is a lot to commend in this 'Pillars of the Earth,' chiefly the actors - who are uniformly excellent - and its set design. Their plans, of course, are dramatically affected by the bloody war, and the malignant designs of Bishop Waleran Bigod ( Ian McShane), whose allegiances shift with the tides.
Tom's a pragmatist with grand ideas - but Philip is guided by God and posterity. The cathedral is the wellspring of a lowborn contractor, Tom Builder ( Rufus Sewell), and Prior Philip ( Matthew Macfadyen). In the midst of succession strife, there rises a cathedral - the most magnificent one ever built, with flying buttresses and other spectacular architectural flourishes that will be remembered, and preserved, long after the world has forgotten about Maud and Stephen. The drama, set in 12th century England, is largely preoccupied with the civil war between Queen Maud (Alison Pill) and King Stephen (Tony Curran) over the rightful heir to the throne, following the death of Henry I. It is Starz's ambitious adaptation of Follett's 1989 bestseller.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT This eight-hour miniseries airs over six Friday nights (this week's episode is two hours). THE MINISERIES 'The Pillars of the Earth'